Automatic weft replenishing loom



Jan. 15, 1957 G. A. LITCHFIELD, JR

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM l4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 11, 1955 b||||| it w w m m George (Z. Lirc/zfieZd,Jr.

Jan. 15, 1957 ca. A. LITCHFIELD, JR

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM 14 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 1l-, 1953 INVENTOR. George 4. Lilclzfleld r.

Jan. 15, 1957 e. A. LITCHFIELD, JR 2,777,473

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Filed Sept. 11, 1955 14 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR. 6207172 (2' Lz'tc/z fZ PZIZ Jr.

Jan. 15, 1957 G. A. LITCHFIELD, JR

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM 14 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 11, 1953 INVENTOR. 6207 d. Litclzfz'eld, n

BY OD, g GZZOWWQQ Jan. 15, 1957 G. A. LITCHFIELD, JR

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM l4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 11, 1953 lllllll l -I minim" a P m T m; m y L .Qw a. W 4 flu a 2 Wm WM 6 5 a no a "ml 2 6 w Jan. 15, 1957 e. A. LlTCHFlELD. JR 2,777,473

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Filed Sept. 11, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTIOR. George (6. Lz'tcbfzeZdJr.

Jan. 15, 1957 G. A. LITCHFIELD, JR 73 AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM Filed Sept. 11, 1953 14 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR. deocye a. Li zchfl'e'ld JE C(Horne y Jan. 15, 1957 s. A. LITCHFIELD, JR

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM l4 Sheets-Sheet 1 0 INVENTOR. Georg/e 6L. Lita/afield J? i Filed Sept. 11, 1955 L ass/yo BROWN WHITE lea Filed Sept. 11, 1953 G. A. LITCHFIELD, JR

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George .tZ. Litchfield,.7i=

Jan. 15, 1957 e, A. LITCHFIELD, JR

AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING LOOM l4 Sheets-Sheet 14 Filed Sept. 11, 1953 I O a 9 O O O O QQQQ m a Z Z Q 7 w a 8- 9 COLO R LEGEND INVENTOR. George (L. Litc/zfl'eZa; fr.

United States Patent AUTOMATIC WEFT REPLENISHING 1.00M

George A. Litchfield, In, Ridgewood, N. .L, assignor to Forstmann Woolen 0a., Passaic, N. 15., a corporation of New Jersey Application September 11, 1953, Serial N 379,687

18 Claims. (Cl. 139-'232) The present invention relates to looms and more particularly to apparatus for use in a well-known and widely employed type of loom for weaving textile materials whereby such loom maybe adapted for automatic weft replenishment by changing bobbins while continuously weaving patterns of widely varying type including those requiring alternating pick and pick weaving with two or more shuttles.

It will be recognized that the principles of the present invention may be embodied in structures variously designed for use in many types of looms. For the purpose of illustration the present invention has been shown embodied in a Crompton 8: Knowles Type W-3 convertible loom provided with the sliding pick motion, tricolor attachment and magazine customarily furnished by the manufacturer for various conversions of that loom and in addition provided with an A. 8; W. filling feeder attachment of the type shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,399,457. In accordance with the present invention, the latter features have been adapted to function in combination-with. a new form of shuttle box and revoker mechanism to provide great flexibility in operation of the loom.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of a shuttle box at the magazine end of the loom having two or more cells which are stacked vertically and are movable as a unit in response to the box pattern chain to position any, desired one of such cells at race plate level. Means are provided for moving the uppermost cell of said shuttle box independently of the remaining cell or cells therein to space said upper cell vertically away from the next lower cell by a distance sufficient to permit ejection of an exhausted quill. Such independent movement of the upper cell occurs only when a transfer cycle has been initiated. The separa tion of the upper cell from the next lower cell makes it possible to transfer whether or not there may be a shuttle in the next lower cell. Preferably an automatically operating chute is provided between the upper cell and the next lower cell which may be so positioned upon separation of the cells as to deflect an exhausted quill in a generally horizontal direction from thespace between said separated cells.

Another important feature of the present invention is a revoker mechanism controlled by the head motion which may be employed with great advantage in many forms of looms. When employed in conjunction with the special shuttle box also provided by the present invention it is possible to weave automatically a great variety of patterns which heretofore could be produced on looms of this general type only when manual weft replenishment was practiced.

Ordinarily when a loom of the general type referred to above is converted for straight, automatic operation, a two-cell shuttle box is used at the drive or magazine end of theloom. Detection occurs on alternate picks. Thus as the lay moves toward front center in one pick in which a shuttle enters the uppermost cell of such shuttle box, the feeler of a detector mechanism is brought 2,777,473 Patented Jan. 15, 1957 into engagement with the bobbin in such shuttle. If the detector indicates "that transfer is necessary, transfer may occur two picks later provided the same shuttle returns to the upper cell at such time, and further provided there is no shuttle in the lower cell. The latter condition is necessary because the exhausted quill must be ejected through the empty lower 'cell. Also, it'is necessary that transfer occur when the lower cell is at race plate level. Thus in building a box pattern chain for such'operation, it is necessary to move the shuttles in a particular sequence which excludes the possibility of alternating pick and pick weaving.

in contrast with this the present invention provides detection on each pick and a shuttle box having two, three, four or more cells on the magazine end of the loom, the uppermost one of which may be split away from the next lower cell for transfer. This novel shuttle box combined with the novel revoker mechanism for preventing transfer at any inappropriate time, provides a box pattern chain cycle of relatively low number of picks in which every shuttle in use may be detected in one pick and replenished if necessary in the next pick. With such arrangement'it will be apparent that a1ternating pick and pick weaving may be accomplished with substantiallyaainy desired number of shuttles in use.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a loo-m having the great flexibility described above which shall be simpleand reliable in operation and provided with certain structural features described in detail hereinbelow.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a preferred, but not necessarily the only form of the present invent-ion. The-drawings also include diagrams illustrat ing the operation of thepreferred and several modified forms of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a simplified, somewhat diagrammatic, front elevational view of a loom of basically standard type to which the present invention has been applied and in which is shown certain of the conventional par-ts of the loom with which the present invention cooperates;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section along the line 33 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section along the line 44 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a box pattern chain modified in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary vertical section along the line 6-6 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 7-7 in Fig. 6 and showing parts in addition to those included in Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section along the line 88 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the sliding pick motion showing the parts in a position different from that in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is afragmentary end elevational view of a detector actuating cam and lever in which the cam has been modified in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 11 is'a fragmentary and elevational view of a cam and mechanism actuated thereby for providing individual movement of one of the cells of the shuttle box on the drive end of the loom, in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 12 is a detailed elevational view, with certain parts omitted, of the shuttle box at the drive end of the loom with certain actuating parts therefor and showing the independently movable cell in the position assumed at the time the quill is changed;

Fig. 13 is a horizontal section along the line 1313 in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a detailed front elevational view generally similar to and showing certain parts omitted from Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary elevational view taken along the line 15-15 in Fig. 14;

Fig. 16 is a side view taken from the right-hand end of Fig. 1 with certain parts in section and certain parts omitted;

Fig. 17 is a horizontal section along the line 17--17 in Fig. 14;

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 1818 in Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary vertical section taken along the line 1919 in Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary vertical section along the line 2020 in Fig. 17;

Fig. 21 is a vertical section taken along the line 21-21 in Fig. 13;

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary view of a safety switch which may be positioned adjacent the right-hand end of the shuttle box shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 23 is a fragmentary vertical section of a detail of the mechanism illustrated in Figs. 12 and 21;

Fig. 24 is a fragmentary vertical section of details of the mechanism shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 25 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 13 but showing the parts in a different operative position;

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary vertical section along the line 2626 in view 25;

Fig. 27 is a diagrammatic view showing the relative positions of the shuttles and shuttle boxes in an 8-pick cycle of operation of a loom embodying the present invention and in which two shuttles are used in alternating pick and pick operation and in which two shuttle box cells are used at both ends of the loom;

Fig. 28 is a diagrammatic representation of a box pattern chain arranged for operation as illustrated in Fig. 27;

Fig. 29 is a diagrammatic view showing the relative positions of the shuttles and shuttle boxes in a 24-pick cycle of operation of a loom embodying the present invention and in which four shuttles, each having a different color, are used in a 3 x 3 operation in a 4 x 4 loom in alternating pick and pick sequence;

Fig. 30 is a diagrammatic illustration of the box pattern chain arranged for operation as illustrated in Fig. 29;

Figs. 31 and 32 are diagrammatic views showing the relative positions of the shuttles and shuttle boxes in a 56-pick cycle of operation of a loom embodying the present invention and in which 7 shuttles, each having a different color, are used in a 4 x 4 operation in a 4 X 4 loom in alternating pick and pick sequence; and

Fig. 33 is a diagrammatic representation of the box pattern chain arranged for operation as illustrated in Figs. 31 and 32.

Referring first to Fig. 1, there is shown the major conventional parts of a Crompton & Knowles W-3 convertible loom arranged for 4 x 4 manual operation in sofar as the convertible feature of the loom, as furnished by the manufacturer, is concerned. A four'cell shuttle box of the construction ordinarily used with such a loom in such an arrangement may be used at the head end of the loom when it is modified in accordance with the present invention. However, a shuttle box of special construction having certain novel motions is provided at the drive end of the loom for the purpose of making the loom capable of fully automatic pick and pick weaving, for example, wherein weft replenishment is accomplished by automatic changing of quills or bobbins. The special shuttle box may be used at both ends of the loom to give even greater flexibility as will be explained hereinbelow. Certain modifications have been made in variout parts of the loom to provide the special motions required and to adapt it to effect proper color selection and to prevent quill changes at inappropriate times. While the present invention has been illustrated in conjunction with a specific commercially available loom, it will be understood that it is not limited to use with such loom and that the principles of the present invention may be applied to looms of various standard or special constructions.

As shown in Fig. l, the loom is provided with a main frame comprising legs 10 and arch 12. The major operating parts of the loom are assembled upon the framework and include the lay assembly, indicated generally at 14, and the head motion assembly, indicated generally at 16, which is carried on the head motion frame 18 forming a part of the arch or upper section 12. The loom is provided with the usual harnesses 20 and reed 22. The main shaft 24 and crank shaft 26 are mounted for rotation in the frame for driving the principal components of the loom and for moving the lay in a wellknown manner.

A four-cell shuttle box 28 of conventional box-loom construction may be provided at the head end of the loom and is mounted for vertical movement to position any one of the four cells thereof level with the race plate 30. The shuttle box 28 may be moved to these various positions by a conventional box lifting mechanism, indicated generally at 32, under the control of a box pattern chain indicated generally at 34. At the drive end of the loom a similar box lifting mechanism 36 is provided for elevating the shuttle box positioned at that end of the loom. In accordance with the present invention, a four-cell shuttle box indicated generally at 38 is of special construction as will be described in detail hereinbelow. The special shuttle box 38 has the normal vertical motions imparted thereto by the box lifting mechanism 36, under the control of the box pattern chain 34, to position a desired cell at race platc level.

The loom shown in Fig. l is also provided with a mag azine 40 which, for purposes of illustration, is shown as the type of magazine which may contain up to four separate sets of quills from which any desired quill may be selected by the mechanism to be described hereinbelow. It will be understood, however, that the present invention is not specifically limited to cooperation with the particular magazine herein illustrated, and furthermore, that the principles of the present invention are equally adaptable to constructions wherein cops, shuttles or other forms of replaceable units may be positioned in a shuttle box upon exhaustion of a unit which has heretofore been in use.

Picker sticks 42 and 44 are shown respectively at the drive and head ends of the loom and these may be actuated by any suitable mechanism, as for example, the

r sliding pick mechanism which will be described hereinbelow.

In addition to the conventional major components of the loom chosen for illustration herein, Fig. 1 shows certain parts which have been added thereto to embody the present invention. Thus the head motion 16 is provided with additional parts for the actuation of a revoker linkage, indicated generally at 46, and a color selector linle age, indicated generally at 43. The revoker linkage 46 is provided to prevent operation of the transfer mechanism at any inappropriate time. The color selector linkage 48 is provided for the selection of a quill from the proper cell of the magazine 40 whenever a transfer is to be eifected. The detector cam indicated at 50 in Fig. 1 has been redesigned in accordance with the present invention to provide a complete cycle of operation of the detector mechanism upon each pick whereas the particular type of loom herein illustrated normally provided a complete cycle of operation of the detector mechanism on every other pick. In this connection it should be pointed out that the main shaft 24 performs one comr plet'e revolution foreach two revolutions of the crank shaft 26 and thus there will be two picks duringcach complete revolution of the main shaft 24.

The special shuttle b01438 provided in accordance with the presentinvention must haveat least two cells and as illustrated includes four cells'numbered, from the top down, as is customary in the loom art. Cell #1 of the box 38 is mounted for movement as a unit with cells #2, #3 and #4 in response to the normalioperation. of the box lifting mechanism :36 during the weaving operation. However, cell #1 of the box 38 is also mounted for vertical movement relative to cells #2, #3 and #430 as to provide a space between cell #1 and cell #Zthrough which an exhausted quill may be ejected. One feature of the present invention lies in the provision of a collapsible chute which normally lies flatwise between cells #1 and #2 and which moves into an inclined position therebetween when cell #1 is moved away from cell #2. Such collapsible chute will be described in detail hereinbelow. The provision for separation between cells #1 and #2 and the, positioning of the chute therebetween makes it possible to ,elfect transfer even though cell #2 is to receive a shuttle or has a shuttle therein which will be sent therefrom during the time that transfer must It will be readily recognized that this ability will vastly increase the flexibility of the loom. As will be described hereinbelow, the present invention makes it possible to effect alternating pick and pick weaving with fully automatic weft replenishment with as few as two shuttles or as many as seven shuttles in a 4 x 4 arrangement or even a greater number of shuttles if five or more cells were to be provided in the shuttle boxes at both ends of the loom.

The revoker mechanism referred to briefly above is arranged to prevent cycling of the transfer mechanism at all times except those in which a particular shuttle will remain .in cell #1 of box 33 during at least the latter part of one pick and the early part of the next pick. It will be understood that in the design of the box pattern chain for any particular fabric it will thus be necessary to provide at least one instance in which each shuttle may remain in cell #1 of box 38 during at least the latter part of one pick and the early part of the next pick, and for the second such pick it is essential that the box 33 be moved to a particular level with respect to the race plate in order that cell #1 will be properly positioned with respect to the magazine to receive a new quill.

For purposes of illustration, the present apparatus has been disclosed in a form wherein cell #2 of box 38 must be positioned level with the race plate at the time a transfer is made, although as will be apparent transfer can be effected with the box 38 at any other level by suitable repositioning of the magazine 40. Proper vertical positioning of the magazine may be conveniently achieved by the provision of any one of a series of spacers 52. The spacer 52 illustrated in Fig. 1 positions the magazine 40 for cooperation with cell #1 when itis separated from cell #2 and when cell #2 is at race plate level. In the event that all four cells of box 38 are used, a different spacer will be provided which raises the magazine a distance equal to the depth of one cell so that transfer may be effected with cell #3 at race plate level. While transfer could be elfected with other cellsat race platelevel, it has been found as a practical matter that the two positions thus described are adequate for operation under any set of conditions which may be found desirable with the 4-cell boxes herein illustrated.

Referring now to Figs. 2 through 5, there is shown a mechanism for operating the revoker and color selector linkage referred to above. Such mechanism is actuated by a box pattern chain and consists of special vibrator levers. The chain shown in Fig. 5 and indicated generally at 56, is constructed for two-color pick andpick weaving with two shuttles ina 2 x 2 box arrangement. The box pattern chain normally used in a loom such as that chosen for @illustration'therein ;;is made nip:v of bars which provide five longitudinally extendingtlines in'awhi'ch risers and sinkers may be positionedgto .actuate the vibrators for controlling box motion and suchothenmotions as may be desired, dependent'upon the particular conversion within the capacity of that loom. Forthe purposes ofthe present invention the box pattemchain-ihas been altered to provide space for additional lines of risers and sinkers to control additional motions made necessary by this invention. Thus while the particular chain illustrated in Fig. 5 has five spaces between :the :links, bars of extra length have been employed'so that additional risers or sinkers may be placed outside the links. The chain shown in Fig. 5 thus provides seven spaces for seven lines of risers and sinkers, four of whichare .used :to control box motion at the drive and head ends, :onefor sliding pick motion, one for color selection and one for control of the revoker. The color selection and revoker lines are shown towards the ends of the bars outside: ofsthe :chain links to minimize modifications inthe head motion of the loom. Two additional vibrators have been provided which operate in vertical planes lying outside they normal width. of the chain and which cooperate with the risers or sinkers placed near the ends of the chain bars.

The color selector vibrator thus-provided .is identified by the reference numeral 58 (see Figs. '2 and 3). The vibrator 58 is pivot-ed at one end to the heelpintl and at its free end is connected to a chain 62. whichp-assesaround an idler 64 and is, in turn, connected to an arm 66 of a bell crank pivoted at 68 to the head motion frame 18. Theother arm 7t) of this bell crank is provided with a slot 72 to receive a stud '74 secured to the end of the color selector linkage as. The stud 74 may be secured within the length of .the slot 72 at different distances from thepivotoli to provide such length of stroke for the linkage 43 as may be desired. The vibrator 58 is provided near the heel pin end with a shoe '80 which is positioned in the path of the risers or sinkers of the box chain 56. It will be apparent that the varying rdistances through which the shoe may be moved by the'risers or sinkers on the chain 56 will be reflected in vproportionate lengthwise movement of the color selector link 48.

The revoker vibrator 82 (see Figs. '2 ,-and 4) is constructed similarly to the color selector vibrator 58,just

' described and is providednear the heelzpin endwith a shoe 84 for cooperation with appropriate risers and sinkers on the box pattern chain 56. Near its free end the vibrator 82 is connected through a flexible chain 86 with abell crank lever 88 to which'the revoker linkage 46 may beadj-ustably secured. The mechanism just described provides for lengthwise movement of the revoker linkage 46 proportionate with vibrator movement imparted by the box pattern chain.

As stated above, the special vibrators 5S and B2 are actuated by risers and sinkers which, for convenience, have been positioned outside the links of the box pattern chain. Referring now to Fig. 5, the chain 56 is made up of a plurality of bars 90 and links 92. The bars 99 are of such length as to accommodate near the left hand ends thereof, as viewed in Fig. 5, a series of risers or sinkers of various diameters for the purpose of select ing any one of a desired number of colors. The particular chain shown in Fig. 5 provides for the selection of any one of two colors as called for by a series of sinkers 94 and risers 96. Where more than two colors are to be selected, an appropriate assortment of risers of various diameters will be provided.

Thebars 96 extend beyond the links 92 on the right hand side, as viewed inFig. 5, for a distance suflicient to accommodate risers- 93 and sinkers 100 which control the motion of the vibrator 82 which operates the revoker linkage as described above. vSince the revoker mechanismrequires only two positions, it has been found convenient to use sinkers and full-sized risers. The risers and sinkers positioned on the bars between the links 92.n1ay be arranged in any suit-able manner.

The box motion vibrators are of conventional design and only one of them has been illustrated in Fig. 7. The vibrator 102 shown therein is positioned for cooperation with risers 104 and sinkers 106 on the box pattern chain 56. The vibrator 102 serves to control the position of cells #1 and #2 of the box 38. The vibrator 102 is pivoted on the heel pin 60 and at its free end carries a vibrator gear 107 forming a part of the familiar Crompton 8: Knowles head motion. A vibrator connector 108 is coupled with a lever 110 pivoted at 112 and connected intermediate its length with a flexible chain 114. The chain 114 passes around an idler sprocket 116 which may be moved bodily in relation to the pivot112 by the vibrator connector 118. Such motion of the sprocket 116 alters the length of stroke of the chain 114 in response to movement of a vibrator (not shown in Fig. 7) which serves to position cells #3 and #4 opposite the race plate in any setup in which those cells must be moved to such position. It will be understood that the particular box pattern chain shown in Fig. 5 does not provide for movement of the idler sprocket 116 inasmuch as cells #1 and #2 only are positioned at race plate level in this particular pattern. The chain 114 is conducted over an idler sprocket 120 and is connected by means of a quarter-turn link toa chain 122 which, in effect, is a continuation of chain 114. The chain 122 passes over an idler sprocket 124 and as shown in Fig. 6, extends from the sprocket 124 to an idler sprocket 126 and from there the chain 114 passes over an idler sprocket 128.

Referring now to Fig. l, the last-mentioned idler sprocket 128 may be seen beneath the lay end of the loom. The chain 114 then extends across the loom to an idler 130 beneath the shuttle box 33 and down wardly to engage a box lifter tube 132. The mechanism just described is conventional and it will be understood that lengthwise movement of the chain 114 imparted by the box pattern chain 56 will produce corresponding vertical motion of the box 38 in usual fashion.

As will be explained in greater detail hereinbelow the spacing between the fioors of cells #1 and #2 of the shuttle box 38 is greater than the spacing between the floors of the remaining cells as a result of the interpositioning between cells #1 and #2 of the pivoted chute to which reference has been made. The mechanism for providing an appropriate additional vertical travel for the box lifting mechanism, whenever a shift is made between cells #1 and #2, is shown in Fig. 6.

In Fig. 6 the parts as shown in the position assumed when cell #1 of the box 38 is at race plate level. To assume this position the portion of the chain 114 between sprockets 124 and 126 has been moved downwardly to the maximum extent. The chain 114 thus will move upwardly to shift the box 38 to position any one of cells #2, #3 and #4 at race plate level. As explained above, the box 38 must move upwardly a somewhat greater distance to bring cell #2 to race plate level. than it needs to move thereafter in bringing #3 and #4 respectively, to race plate level. To this end there is provided a pair of spaced idler sprockets 134 and 136 which are so positioned as to engage the links of chain 114 from one side. A mutilated idler sprocket 138 is positioned on the opposite side of the chain with its axis approximately midway between the axes of the idlers 134 and 136. The mutilated idler 138 is provided with a series of teeth 140 and a flat side 142. It will be observed that the chain 11 i engages only two teeth 140 of the idler sprocket in the position of parts shown in full lines in Fig. 6 and that the path of the chain from idler sprocket 134 to idler sprocket 136 is shortened as a result of the position of the flat 142. When the chain moves upwardly to elevate cell #2 to race plate level, idler sprocket 138 will be rotated counter-clockwise toward the position shown in broken lines in Fig. 6. In the latter position the chain 114 must follow the circular outline of the toothed portion of sprocket 138 and thus follow a longer path between the idlers 134 and 136. This results in a shortening of the effective overall length of the chain 114 with an attendant additional verticaldisplacement of the box 38. Further upward movement of the chain 114 incident to the positioning of cells #3 or #4 at race plate level will be accomplished without any change in length of the chain 114 since throughout such motions the chain engages the toothed portion of idler 138. Similarly, upon movement in the opposite direction to lower the box 38, the increments between cells #4, #3 and #2 will be equal where as the parts again approach the position illustrated in full lines in Fig. 6, the effective overall length of chain 114 will, be lengthened to produce the desired additional vertical travel from cell #2 to cell it! of box 38.

In Fig. 9 there is illustrated certain essential parts of the sliding pick motion embodied in the Crompton 8: Knowles convertible loom which has been chosen for illustration as a standard loom to which the present invention may be adapted. This conventional mechanism is operated in response to a series of risers or sinkers on the box pattern chain, specifically the risers 144 and sinkers 146 shown in Fig. 5 and the vibrator 148 shown in Fig. 8. When the vibrator 148 is elevated by a riser 144, as shown in Fig. 8, the sliding pick motion will be positioned to make a pick from the drive end of the loom. Fig. 9 is a rear elevational view and accordingly, the right hand portion of Fig. 9 corresponds with the head end of the loom. Also Fig. 9 shows the sliding pick motion in the position it assumes when a sinker 146 is in contact with the vibrator 148. That is, the position of parts shown in Fig. 9 does not correspond with the arrangement of risers and sinkers shown in Fig. 8. In the position shown in Fig. 9, the mutilated gear 150 has been moved to its lower position in which it receives counter-clockwise rotation thus rocking the vibrator connector 152 and lever 154 about the pivot 156 to raise the linkage 158 which rocks bell crank lever 160 about a pivot 162 mounted on a fixed arm 164. One arm of the bell crank lever 160 is provided with a pin 165 which engages an annular groove 166 in a collar 168 which serves to shift the picking arm .170 relative to a hub 172 fixed on the main shaft 24. As shown in Fig. 9, the picking arm has been moved toward the right to a position wherein it will engage the picking shoe 174. A link 176 extends across the loom to cause corresponding movement of the picking arm 178 at the drive end of the loom. As shown in Fig. 9, the picking arm 178 has been moved toward the right into a position wherein it will not engage the picking shoe 180. When a riser 144 is positioned beneath the vibrator 148, the mutilated vibrator gear 150 will be rotated clockwise to a position 180 removed from that shown in Fig. 9 and the mechanism just described Will be moved to cause engagement of the picking arm 173 with the picking shoe 180 at the drive end of the loom with a corresponding disengagement of the picking arm 170 and picking shoe 174 at the head end of the loom.

In Fig. 10 there is shown a double-lobed cam 50 for operating the detector mechanism as generally described above. This cam includes upper and lower halves 180 and 182 as viewed in Fig. 10, and each half produces a complete detecting motion. This motion is efifected by movement of a follower roller 184 which rides within the cam track 186 and which is positioned at one end of a lever 188 pivoted at 190 to the frame of a loom. At its opposite end the lever 188 is provided withparallel slots 192 and 194. These two slots are provided by the manufacturer for conversion of the loom for 4 x 1 straight automatic operation or 4 x 2 filling mixing operation. For the purposes of the present invention, one, or the other of the slots 192 and 194 will beused depending upon the number of cells-of box 9 38 which it may be desired to put into operation and upon other factors, as will be apparent to those, familiar with the art. As shown in the drawings, the detector rod 196 is engaged with the slot 194 for the particular operation chosen for first illustration herein.

The special shuttle box 33 with independently movable top cell provided in accordance with the present invention will now be described with reference first to, Fig. 1. In Fig. 1 cell #1 of the box 38 is locked to the remaining cells of the box in the position which it normally assumes during the weaving operation. In this figure, cell #1 is positioned at race plate level and accordingly, the box 38 is in the lowest position which it assumes in operation. The box 3% is mounted for vertical movement in outer and inner box guides 198' and 200 respectively. The vertical motion referred to is imparted by the mechanism described above whereby the box lift tube 132 is moved vertically in response to shifting of the chain 114. The tube 132 is slidable upon the box rod 202 but a stiff giveaway spring 204 is interposed between the tube 132 and lockout 206 fixed to the box 38. Vertical movement of the tube 132 is transmitted to the box 32% through the stiff spring 2114 as is customary in loom construction. The spring 2194 is provided to prevent injury to the mechanism in the event of a jam.

It will be noted that the. magazine 40 is positioned at such, a level that cell #1 would be in transfer position if cell #3 were to be elevated to race plate level, assuming that the split box remains in the locked position illus trated in Fig. 1. However, for the 2 x 2 operation chosen as the primary illustration, cell #3 does not rise to race plate level. Transfer occurs with cell #2 at race plate level and cell #1 split to the extent of approximately the depth of a cell so as to occupy transfer position. This provides a space through which an empty bobbin may be discharged in the course of transfer. In case it is desired to accommodate a particular number of shuttles which would require the use of cell #3, the magazine 40 may remain at the level illustrated in Fig. 1, and transfer will occur with cell #2 at race plate level, as will be explained hereinbelow. In case an even greater number of shuttles is to be accommodated, the magazine may be elevated by the use of a larger or additional spacer 52 which secures the magazine. .40 in a position such as to accommodate the depth of one or more additional cells. The principles of the present invention are not restricted to any specific number of cells or to transfer with any particular cell at race plate level although for purposes of illustration, .certain specific examples will be described in detail.

Referring now *to. Fig. 12, the split box 38 provided in accordance with the present invention is shown in detail and in the position which it assumes at the instant of transfer. Thus in Fig. 12, #2 cell is at race plate level and #1 cell has been split away from #2 cell and thus brought up to magazine level for the transfer operation. The uppermost position of cell #1 may be limited by a safety stop 2111 secured to the box guide 200 in a position appropriate for the number of cells being used and the corresponding vertical position .of the magazine 40. The lifter rod 292 and spring 204 have been omitted from this figure and there is shown only the additional mechanism provided for shifting of cell #1 relative to the other cells. Cells #2, #3 and #4 are shown as a three-unit construction of substantially conventional form and they are provided with. the usual spring pressed shuttle binders 208, 210 and 212, respectively, which operate in the usual fashion. These three cells move as a unit in accordance with the box pattern chain. Cell #1 is constructed as a single unit separate from the other cells which rides vertically between the box guides 198 and 2110 in much the same way asthe remaining cells. As stated above, cell #1 may move jointly with or independently of the remaining cellsin box 38. To this end cell #1 is provided with two bosses 214 and 216 1-0 n. which are fix r pe tive rtical di p ed rods 18 nd 220 l a cei d in ba ses 2.2.3 a d 22 secured to. the cell unit comprising cells #2, #3 and #4. At their lower ends the rods 218 and 220 are secured to a saddle 226. The saddle 226, rods 218 and 2213 and cell #1 thus form a rigid rectangular frame which may be moved vertically within the bosses 222 and 224.

When cell #1 is loweredinto engagement with cell #2, it is locked in that position by a pair of lock pawls 228 and 230 positioned at the opposite ends of a rock shaft 232 pivoted in suitable bearings 234 and 236 attached to the saddle 226. The rock shaft 232 has fixed thereon a lever 238 and a pair of spaced torsion springs 240 and 2 12 arranged to urge the shaft to rotate in such direction that the pawls, 228 and 230 tend 'to move toward the cell unit comprising cells #2, #3 and #4.

A horizontally disposed lock knife 244 (see Fig. 13) is pivoted at 246 on the saddle 226 and is provided with an upturned plate 2518 positioned for engagement with the lever 23.8 on rock shaft 232 (also see Fig. 12). Referring again to Fig. 13, the lock knife 244- has at its free end a square, perforation to receive the upper end of a lock knife finger 250 which projects through a slot 252 in the saddle 226. The lock knife finger 250 (see Fig. 12) may slide freely through the perforation in lock knife 244 in the course of vertical movements of the shuttle box 38 while maintaining constant con nection with the lock knife 244. At its lower end the lock knife finger is pivoted at 254 on a fixed part of the lay-end. As will be apparent from a consideration of Figs. 12 and 13, rocking of the lock knife finger 2511 will be effective to swing the lock knife 244 in a horizontal plane to move the plate 248 relative to the lever 233 and thus to permit or cause rocking of the shaft 232 and the locking pawls 228 and 230. In the position shown in Figs. 12 and 13, the lock knife has thus been moved forward to withdrawn the pawls 22S and 231) from engagement with any part of the three-cell unit. As an incident to the lowering of cell #1 from the position shown in Fig. 12 into proper weaving relationship with cell #2, the mechanism just described will be actuated to permit the pawls 228 and 230 to swing backward whereupon they will engage the lower corner of the lowermost cell of box 38 as clearly shown in Figs. 21 and 25. The locking pawls 228 and 231? are each provided with a notch of suitable contour to firmly engage both the side and bottom wall of the lowermost cell and thus to hold cell #1 rigidly in the position shown in Fig. 21. When it is desired to unlock cell #1 for movement relative to the remaining cells in the unit, the locking finger 250 is moved forwardly as viewed in Figs. 12 and 13 to retract the pawls into the position shown in those figures.

Independent vertical movement of the cell #1 may be imparted by any suitable mechanism. A preferred form of mechanism is shown in the drawings which consists of a vertically disposed lifter rod 256 which extends through a boss- 258 secured to a bracket 26f fixed on the lay-end 262. By mechanism which will be described, the rod 256 is reciprocated every cycle of the loom. The rod 256 extends freely through a boss 264 (see Fig. 16) secured on the saddle 226 and its upper end is provided with a step 266 (see Fig. 26) which moves from a position closely approximating the level of the top ofsaddle 226 at the lowermost end of the reciprocation of rod 256 to an elevated position illustrated in Fig. 26. Mechanism is provided for connecting the saddle 226 with the reciprocating rod 256 at such times as it might be desired to move cell #1 relative to the remaining cells. This mechanism; is. best shown in. Figs. 13, 1 6, 25 and 26. In Figs. 13 and 16, the rod 256 is connected with the saddle'226 while in Figs. 25 and 26 it is disconnected. The means for effecting the connection includes the lock knife 244 (see Fig. 13 which has been described above. The lock knife is 11 Y provided with a notch 268 and the boss 264 is provided with a horizontal slot 270 (see Fig. 25) to receive the portion of lock. knife 244 in which notch 268 is formed. When the lock knife 244 is moved forward to unlock the pawls 228 and 230 the notched portion 268 thereof will. move through the slot 278 and into a position to overlie the step 266 in rod 256. Thus the next upward movement of the rod 256 will be transmitted to the saddle 226 and cell #1. As will be explained hereinbelow, the mechanism is so timed that the lock knife 244 will move into the position just described only when the vertically reciprocating rod 256 is in its lowermost position.

To move the lock knife 244 into the position in which it engages the vertically reciprocating rod 256 and serves to unlock the pawls 228 and 230, the mechanism shown in Fig. 24 is provided. In this figure the lock knife finger 250 is shown extending through a slot 252 in the saddle 226 and through the lock knife 244. The bracket 260 is provided with an opening 272 through which projects a link 274 connected at 276 with the lock knife finger 250 and at 278 with bell crank lever 280 pivoted at 282 on a bracket 284 secured to the lay end 262. The bell crank lever 280 is urged to rotate clockwise is viewed in Fig. 24 by a tension spring 286. Such clockwise rotation of the lever 2S0 serves to move the lock knife finger 250 to the right as viewed in Fig. 24 and this movement places the lock. knife 244 in the position shown in Fig. 25. The bell crank lever 280 has connected to it a downwardly extending link 288 which is actuated by a mechanism to be described to move the lock knife 244 forwardly into operative position whenever the indicator mechanism of the loom operates to initiate a transfer.

Referring again to Figs. 12 and 13, it will be observed that the upper portion of lift rod 256 is rectangular in cross-section and that the boss 258 is provided with a rectangular bore 29!) to receive the rod 256. The lower portion 294 of rod 256 is cylindrical. At the lower end of the boss 258 there is positioned a washer 292 having a circular opening to receive the cylindrical extension 294 which projects beneath the boss 258. At its lower end there is secured to the cylindrical extension 294 an offset collar 296. An expansive spring 298 is positioned between the collar 296 and the washer 292 and the expansive force of this spring assists gravity in urging the lift rod 256 downwardly. The offset collar 296 has secured to it an adjustable chain rod 300 connected with a flexible chain 302 which is conducted over idler sprockets 304 and 306 carried by the bracket 260 on the layend 262. At its opposite end the chain 382 is connected to a chain rod 308.

Referring now to Fig. 11, the chain rod 308 is connected with a short length of chain 310 which passes around an idler sprocket 312 and is connected by means of a chain rod 314 with the lower end of a lever 316 pivoted at 318 on a bracket 320 on the main frame of the loom. Intermediate its ends, the lever 316 carries a follower roller 322 which cooperates with a doublelobed cam 324 fixed upon the main shaft 24. Since the main shaft makes but one revolution for two cycles of the loom, the double-lobed earn 324 is necessary to provide a reciprocation of the lifting rod 256 for each cycle of the loom. The spring 298 described in the preceding paragraph maintains the chain linkage under tension and holds the follower roller 232 firmly in engagement with the face of the cam 324.

The adjustable chain rod 300 (see Fig. 12) provides for accurate positioning of the lift rod 256 so that the step 266 will be certain to fall below the level of the lock knife 244 in each stroke. The length of the stroke after engagement with the lock knife must be accurately predetermined and while controlled primarily by the shape of the cam 234, the final adjustment of the ultimate maxi mum lift is arrived at by adjusting the position of the offset collar 296 on the cylindrical extension 294 of the lift rod 256. Obviously the cam 324 is so shaped and so positioned upon the main shaft 24 as to impart lifting motion to cell #1 at a precisely determined instant within the cycle of operation of the loom.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, cell #1 is unlocked from and elevated relative to the remaining cells only at the time a transfer is to be made. At such times cell #1 is moved to a particular vertical position with respect to the magazine 40 as illustrated in Figs. 12 and 16. When transfer occurs a filled bobbin is projected from the magazine 40 into the shuttle in cell #1 and the exhausted bobbin is expelled from the shuttle by the incoming filled bobbin. This operation is carried out by a hammer which moves at very high speed and considerable force is exerted upon the shuttle and the cell in which it is positioned. Accordingly it is desirable to provide a substantial support for holding cell #1 steady during the transfer operation. In Fig. 19 a suitable support or steadier 325 is shown mounted upon the breast beam 326 (also see Fig. 17). Secured to the breast beam 326 is a bearing 328 which receives a shaft 330 on which is pivoted a lever 332 having a horizontal extension 334 threaded to receive a screw-threaded body 336 having an enlarged head 338 which is notched at 340 to receive the lower forward corner of cell #1. The lever 332 is constantly urged to rotate clockwise about the pivot 330 by a leaf spring 342 secured at 334 to the breast beam 326. Clockwise rotation of the lever 332 is limited by a set screw 346 threaded into a tail 348 formed on the lever 332. The set screw 346 adjustably engages the breast beam 326 to establish desired backward position of the steadier 325 in which it is ready to engage cell #1 as will be explained. The screw threaded body 336 may be rotated to position the notched head 338 in desired vertical relationship with cell #1 and may be held in adjusted position by a set screw 350.

Since the steadier 325 is mounted on the breast beam and cell #1 is carried by the lay, cell #1 will move toward and from the steadier on each cycle of the loom. Except when transfer occurs a binder retainer 352 or 354 on box 38 (see Fig. 12) will strike the steadier 325 and swing it idly forward. When cell #1 is elevated for transfer the lower front edge thereof will engage the steadier in operative relation. In the particular loom herein illustrated approimately 40 of the loom cycle are needed for transfer and this portion of the cycle is that in which the lay approaches, reaches and recedes from front center. Thus it is desirable that the box steadier shown in Fig. 19 be so shaped and adjusted that it will be engaged by cell #1 approximately 20 ahead of front center and remain in engagement therewith until the lay recedes approximately 20 from front center.

When a transfer is to be made and cell #1 is elevated by the mechanism above described and has been brought forward into engagement with the steadier 325, the lifting mechanism for cell #1 may be disengaged so that cell #1 will return to normal position as soon as it is retracted from the steadier. To this end a stationary push finger 356 is mounted on the feeler housing (see Figs. 16, 17 and 23). The feeler housing or feeler stand to which the finger 356 is secured will be described in detail hereinbelow but it will be understood that it is a stationary part of the loom. Thus, movement of the lay is relative to the finger 356. Referring now to Fig. 23, the stationary push finger 356 is shown in its relation with the plate 248 on lock knife 244. Since these parts are carried by the saddle 226 they move backwards and forwards with the lay and they also move vertically with cell #1 when it moves independently of the remaining cells in box 38. In those instances wherein cell #1 is locked to the remaining boxes, the parts 244 and 248 will occupy the position shown in full lines in Fig. 23 and thus will not be at such an elevation as to engage the push finger 356 during normal weaving cycles of the loom. How- 

